Variable-speed drive



June 19, 1951 F. c. VICTORY VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE 4 SheetS-Sheet 1 FiledJuly 20, 1948 m: m m:

INVENTOR. FREDERICK E. VIETURY A T TORNE Y June 19, 195] F. c. VICTORYVARIABLE SPEED DRIVE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 20, 1948 INVENTOR.IREDERIEK E. MD TURY ATTORNEY June 19, 1951 F. c. VICTORY 2,557,849

VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE Filed July 20, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 &

INVENTOR.

IREDERIBK E. WETIJRY ATTORNEY.

June 19, 195] F. cjvlc'roRY VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledJuly 20, 1948 IIIIIIJ INVENTOR. IREDERIBK E. \fmTuRY AT TORNEY PatentedJune 19, 1951 2,557,849 VARIABLE-SPEED DRIVE Frederick 0. Victory,Milford, Conn assignor to Moore Special Tool 00.,

Connecticut Inc., a corporation of Application July 20, 1948, Serial No.39,712

This invention relates to new and useful im provements in variable speeddrives and has particular relation to a variable speed pulley drive.

An object of the invention is to provide a variable speed pulley driveincluding an expansible spring loaded driving pulley, an expansiblespring loaded driven pulley, a speed change mechanism or devicecomprising a pair of intermediate expansible driving and driven pulleysbelted respectively to the spring loaded driving and driven pulleys andincluding means coupling a flange of one intermediate pulley with aflange of the other thereof, and power means including a reversibleelectric motor operable to simultaneously shift the coupled flanges ofthe intermediate pulleys to change the effective diameters of suchpulleys to vary the rate of drive from the spring loaded drive throughsuch intermediate to the spring loaded driven pulley and wherein thespring loading of the driving and driven pulleys provides for automaticadjustment of the effective diameters of the latter as the coupledflanges of the intermediate pulleys are adjusted by said power means andfurther providing automatically to compensate for the change in thelength of the belt path resulting from changes in the effectivediameters of such intermediate pulleys.

Another object is to provide in a variable speed pulley drive includinga driving and a driven pulley and intermediate pulleys coupledrespectively to such driving and driven pulleys an improved frame ormounting structure and an improved arrangement of parts whereby thebelts may be easily applied to the pulleys as in new installations orwhen replacing damaged or worn belts or the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent froma consideration of the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein a satisfactoryembodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includesall such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing a variable speed pulley driveconstructed in accordance with the invention;

2 is a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken as along theplane of the line 33 ofFig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view taken as along theplane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

11 Claims. (Cl. 74-23017) Referring in detail to the drawings, myimproved variable speed pulley drive is generally designated I D and thesame is shown as mounted on a part H of the frame or like portion of anymachine to which the drive is applied, or of any other suitable support.Drive 10 comprises a unit, all parts of which are mounted on a frame orcasting, including outer arms l2 and I3 and an intermediate arm I4, suchthree arms being rigidly connected in their intermediate portions. Thus,in the drawings, a frame portion 15 connects the mid or intermediateportions of the arms i2 and i i While a frame portion 16 connects themid or intermediate portions of the arms i3 and Hi.

All of the arms are free of one another in their outer end portions orexcept for their intermediate or mid portions where they are connectedby the frame pieces and 16. At one end, arm 52 includes a shortcylindrical portion or part i?! motmting a bearing cap I8 secured inplace as by screws l9. Cap 18 mounts any desired type of bearing 20.Beyond the frame portion or part l5, arm i2 includes a relatively largeportion 2| centrally provided with an opening 22 mounting on a bearingdevice 23.

The inner part of said portion 2! has a reversible electric motor 2secured thereto as by a clamp or strip 25 secured to a frame portion 26as with bolts 2?. The purpose of this motor will later be fully setforth but here it is noted that the motor, through a .suitable gearing(not shown) in a gear casing 28, drives a shaft 29 shown as extendinggenerally at right angles to the frame arms l2, l3 and l4.

An end portion 3!! of the intermediate arm M is also somewhat ring-likeor in the form of a short cylinder and supports a suitable bearing 31 inalignment with the bearing 29 in the cap 18. These bearings 28 and 3!mount the respective ends of a driven shaft 32, later to again beconsidered. Also, in the arm portion 30 and in alignment with thebearing 3| is a second hearing 33 mounting one end of a relatively shortor stub shaft 34, which in the present instance, serves for the mountingof a drive pulley, all as will be fully set forth.

The end portion 35 of the arm [3 is also hollow or cylindrical beingprovided with a relatively large diameter cylindrical opening orpassageway St generally concentric with the stub shaft 8d. The oppositeend portion 31 of the arm I3 has an opening 33 therethrough closed atits outer side as by a cap 39 secured in place by screws or bolts ii).Also, the opening 38 provides for the mounting of a bearing 4| concen- 3trio with the bearing 23 in the portion 2| of arm i2.

A source of power, in the present instance comprising an electric motor42, is mounted on the above described frame as by having its flange :23located against the underside of the cylindrical arm portion of theframe and then being bolted to the frame as by bolts 44 passing throughsaid frame part and into the motor flange. The motor 42 is mounted withits shaft with or aligned with the stub shaft 34 above mentioned.

On this stub shaft 34 is a sleeve 46 at its inner end having an annularflange 4-1 to which screws 48 secure a cone flange 49 of a drivingpulley generally designated 58. The sleeve 46 extends out wardly of theend of the stub shaft 34 and re-- eeives the end portion of the motorshaft .and r is connected in driving relation with the latter as througha key 5!. Mounted on the sleeve 45 is a sleeve or hub-like portion 52comprising an integral part of a second cone flange53 of said drivingpulley 59. The sleeve 52 is slidable longitudinally on the sleeve 46 tocarry the pulley flange 53 toward and from the pulley flange 49.However, such sleeve 52 is fixed to turn with the sleeve 46, these partsbeing connected as by a key 54 extending parallel with the alignedshafts 34 and 45 and with the'key 5!.

The pulley, 5!) is spring loaded or includes spring means whereby itsmovable flange 53 is constantly urged toward its fixed flange 49. To thedesired end, a stop or limiting flange 55 is fixed to the free endportion of the sleeve 6% beyond the outer limit of the key 54 and arelatively .heavy coil spring 56 bears at its respective ends againstthe stop 55 and the inner circumferential portion of the pulley flange53.

The springlies about the sleeve 52 of said pulley flange and isconstantly tending to move the latter toward the pulley flange 49.However, against the resistance of said spring and by compression ofsaid spring, the pulley flange 53 may be moved away from the pulleyflange 49. As the pulley flanges 49 and 53 are tapered on their inner oropposed surfaces, it will be understood that as said flanges are movedtoward one another or away from one another, a belt running on thepulley will be remote from or nearer to the axial center of the pulleyand thus will be effective on a larger or smaller diameter portion.

of the pulley. Thus, the pulley is herein described as an expansiblevariable speed pulley.

Mounted on the drivenshaft 32 is an expansible variable speed pulleygenerally designated 57. Pulley 51 includes a 'flxed cone flange 58secured as by means of screws 59 to a collar or ring 68 on the shaft 32and in addition includes a cone flange 6| integral or rigid with asleeve 62 slidable longitudinally of the shaft 32 but adapted forturning movement therewith by reason of a key63 keying the shaft andsleeve 62 together. Pulley 51 is also. a spring, loaded expansiblevariable speed pulley.

A stop or flange 64 is fixed to the outer end of the shaft 32 and arather heavy coil spring bears at one end against said flange or stopand at its other end against the flange 5! of the pulley 57. Thus, thecoil spring 65 is constantly tending to move the cone flange 8| towardthe cone flange 58 and since each of said flanges is a cone on its innerface, or since the flanges are coned on their opposing faces, it will beseen that as the flange 6| moves toward flange 58, the effectivediameter of the pulley 51 is increased and as the 5 concentric.

flange 6! moves away from the flange 58, the effective diameter of thepulley 51 is decreased.

The spring 65 functions in substantially the same manner as the spring56. That is, spring 55 constantly tends to move the flange Bl towardsthe flange 58 but the former may be moved away from the latter oncompression of said spring 65. Integral or otherwise made rigid with thepulley flange 58 is a power take-off pulley fifishown as provided with apair of V-grooves 67. These grooves receive V-belts 68 trained over thetake-off pulley 66 and also over pulleys (not shown) on a. spindle orother part (not shown) to be driven.

Mountedinthebearing device 23 and 41 are the respective end portions ofa countershaft 6d. Such'countershaft comprises a portion of a chan espeed deviceor mechanism, generally designated l0 and including changespeed driving and driven pulleys generally designated H and 12,respectively. Pulley H includes a stationary cone flange 13 having a hub14 secured as'by a key 15' to an end portion of the'shaft 69. This hubis located between the bearing device 41 and a shoulder 16 on the shaft89. Somewhat similarly, the pulley l2 includes a fixed cone flange Tlincluding a hub 18 keyed to the other end portion of the shaft 69 as bya key 79 and located in the bearing 23. Acollar or the like 80 on theshaft, together with the bearing means 23, locates the pulley flange H.

In addition, pulley 72 includes a second cone flange 8! arranged withits cone face in opposed relation to that of the flange 11. This flange.8! is integral or otherwise rigid with a sleeve 82 extending along orreceiving the mid portion of the shaft 69. A second cone flange 83 ofthe pulley H has its cone face in opposing relation with the cone faceof the flange '13 and in- .cludes a sleeve 84- telescoping over thesleeve 82 and through which the latter sleeve extends.

These sleeves are secured together to rotate as a unit, the securingmeans being shown as a key 35. The inner portion of the sleeve 82 isreceived in a bearing 86 in one end portion of a coupling 87 slidablethrough a ring-like portion 88 comprising the outer end of the mid orintermediate arm I4 of the main frame. In its other end portion, thecoupling 87 receives a bearing 89 mounting the sleeve 84 of the pulleyflange B3. A nut 90 is threaded on the free end portion of the sleeve 82and thus ties together as a unit the pulley flanges 8| and 83, thesleeves 82 and 84, the bearings 83 and 89, and the coupling sleeve 81.All of these parts are slidable longitudinally of the shaft 69 andthrough the ring-like cylindrical or hearing portion 88 of the arm I4.-

For the purpose of varying the effective speed of the present drive, thecoupling 81' is shifted longitudinally of the shaft 69 to carry one ofthe pulley flanges 8i and 83 toward or from its complemental flange orthe companion flange of its pulley. That is, as the coupling 87 isshifted to carry the flange 8i toward the flange H of the pulley 72,flange 83 will be carried from the flange 13 of the pulley 71. This willincrease the effective diameter of the pulley T2 and decrease theeffective diameter of the pulley 1 I Obviously, on the coupling 8? beingshifted in the opposite direction there will be a reversal ,of theadjustment so that the effective diameter of the pulley 3'2 will bedecreased and the effective diameter of the pulley H will be increased.

A suitable V-belt 81 is trained over the driving pulley 59 of my changespeed transmission Ill and over the driving pulley H of the intermediateor change speed mechanism ill of such variable speed transmission. Asimilar V-belt 92 is trained over the driven pulley 51 of my variablespeed transmission 10 and the driven pulley '32 of the speed changemechanism of said transmission. With this construction, it will beunderstood that assuming the motor shaft 45 to be driven at a fixedspeed, the speed at which the power take-off pulley 65 is driven may bevaried almost infinitely.

The drive may be approximately one-to-one as between the belts 9| and 92or it may be the pulley 66 will be driven many times as fast as thepulley 59. The variations in speed may be extremely slight sinceadjustments are not made in any actual steps. Thus, if the coupling isshifted to lessen the effective diameter of the pulley H of the changespeed mechanism It, the belt 9! will be permitted. to draw inwardlytoward the center of said pulley I I.

As this takes place, the spring 55 working against the flange 53 of thepulley 58' will shift said flange toward the flange 49 of that pulley toincrease the efiective diameter of the latter. In this connection it isnoted that the springs 59 and 65 will shift the spring loaded flanges ofeither of the pulleys 50 and 5'! to automatically compensate for anychange in the lengths of the belt paths resulting from changes in theeffective diameters of the pulleys H and T2 of the change speedmechanism it. Thus, the springs will cause the pulleys 58 and 5! toalways maintain the belts 9| and 92 at the proper tension.

As the pulley flange 83 is shifted to lessen the effective diameter ofthe pulley H, the pulley flange 8! is necessarily shifted toward thepulley flange ll of the pulley F2 to increase the effective diameter ofthat pulley. This will result in a crowding outwardly toward the outerperiphery of the pulley 72 of the belt portion trained about said pulleywith a resultant inward drawing of the portion of said belt trainedabout the driven pulley 5?. The first noted change is forced bymechanical shifting of the pulley flange 8! while the spring 65 permitsof the latter change or the shifting of the pulley flange 5| toautomatically compensate.

Power means are provided for shifting the coupling 8'? to adjust theexpansible pulleys ll and T2 of the change speed mechanism It and suchpower means includes the reversible motor 24 and the shaft 29 previouslymentioned. Shaft .29, through a suitable coupling 93, is secured to theupper end of a shaft 94 which at its lower end may be mounted in afootstep bearing 8-5. The shaft 94 carries a worm 9B meshing with a wormgear 9? on a shaft 98. Shaft 98 is arranged at right angles to the shaft69 and is shown as having bearing in the frame parts at 99 and H39.

Fixed to one end of shaft 98 is a pinion or gear It! constantly meshingwith a rack I82 fixed to the coupling 8? as by means of a screw m3.Since the motor 24 is a reversible electric motor, it will be understoodthat when it is energized to run in one direction it will, through thedescribed shafts and gearing, turn the pinion If in a direction to feedthe rack Hi2 and thus the coupling 87 in one direction and whenenergized to turn in a reverse direction through the same mechanism, thecoupling 8? will be shifted in the opposite direction.

The effect of the movement of this coupling on the pulleys H and (2 ofthe change speed mechanism H3 has been fully set forth. When the motoris energized, it will run in one direction until stopped and thus theoperator by witnessing the effect on a spindle or other part beingdriven by the belt 68, will know when to discontinue energizing of themotor 24. If desired, a tachometer (not shown) may be employed.

To prevent any excessive movement of the parts, such as would result injamming or breaking of the parts, a limiting switch IE4 is provided.This switch is shown as mounted on an extension I05 of the frame arm I2and as located within an open sided housing i0 6. Operating 7 arms It!and m8 of the switch extend through an inner wall of the housing and arelocated in the path of movement of operating lugs I09 and Hi] fixed inany desired manner to an upright or rod H! in turn fixed to a bracket H2bolted or otherwise secured to the coupling 81. In the drawings I haveshown bolts or screws I 13 as the means employed for fastening bracket l!2 to such coupling and to accommodate the coupling, the cylindricalbearing portion 88 of the arm I4 is provided with a cutout or opening II4.

With this construction, when the motor 2 3 is energized to feed thecoupling 3'! toward the expansible-pulley H of the change speedmechanism IE? at the extreme limit of any such possible movement thestop lug I89 will engage the switch arm Iii! to open the circuit to themotor 24. On excessive movement of the coupling in the oppositedirection by the motor, the stop lug I!!! will engage the switch arm I88to open the motor circuit. Thus, the switch HM and its attendantmechanism is in the form of a safety device.

It is noted that the arms l2, l3 and I4 are connected only on their midor intermediate portions and that their end portions are free of oneanother. With this construction, it will be seen that the belt 9! may bemounted on the pulleys 5s and H by dropping the belt over the frame andworking one portion of it at a time over the frame portions and thepulleys 5? and I2. Similarly,-the V-belts (it may easil be placed aboutthe takeoff pulley by dropping said V-belts down over the present driveassembly. In the same manner, the belt 92 is easily trained about orplaced over the pulleys 5! and E2 or replaced when a new belt isdesired.

Shifting 0f the pulleys in the frame to permit of the mounting of thebelts is not necessary. The frame or casting of the present variablespeed pulley drive is, in its lower side portions I I5 and H6, provided.with slots ill and I I8, respectively, through which mounting bolts H9pass. These bolts may be used for securing the present drive Ill to thesupport or machine part II. Also, on loosening of these bolts, thepresent drive may be shifted in the direction of the lengths of theslots H1 and M8 to compensate for stretching of the V-belts 68 or topermit of ease in mounting such belts or training such belts about thetake-oh" pulley 66.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a variable speed pulley drive, in com-bination, a frame includingthree substantially aligned arms, a drive shaft supported from one endportion of the intermediate of said arms, a driven shaft supported inalignment with said drive shaft and by and between said end portion ofthe intermediate arm and an end portion of an outer arm, a countershaftpassing through the other end portion of said intermediate arm andhaving bearing in the aligned end portions of saidouter'arms; a .drivingpulley on said drive shaft, a driven pulley on said driven shaft, ex-ypansible pulleys on said'countershaft at the respective sides of saidend portion of said intermediate arm, each of said expansible pulleys.

comprising an outer fixed flange and an inner movable flange, meanscoupling said movable flanges together through said end portion of saidintermediate arm, said means including a tubular coupling, a rack fixedto said coupling and extending parallel with said countershaft, a gearmeshing with said rack, means for turning said gear in the selecteddirection to move said inner flanges to carry one toward and the otherfrom the outer flange of its pulley whereby to vary the effectivediameters of said intermediatepulleys, belts connecting the intermediatepulleys With the driving and driven pulleys, respectively, and said armsfree at their outer ends and supported from their mid portions wherebybelts may be slipped over said frame including said arms and onto therespective sets of pulleys.

2. In a variable speed pulley drive, in combination, a frame includingthree substantially aligned arms, a, drive shaft supported from one endportion of the intermediate of said arms, a driven shaft supported inalignment with said drive shaft and by and between said end portion ofthe intermediate arm and an end portion of an outer arm, a countershaftpassing through the other end portion of said intermediate arm andhaving bearing in the aligned end portions of said outer arms, a drivingpulle on said drive shaft, a driven pulley on said driven shaft,expansible pulleys on said countershaft at the respective sides of saidend portion of said intermediate arm, each of said expansible pulleyscomprising an outer fixed flange and an inher movable flange, meanscoupling said movable flanges together through said end portion of saidintermediate arm, said means including a coupling, a rack fixed to saidcoupling and extending parallel with said countershaft, a, gear meshingwith said rack, means for turning said gear in the selected direction tomove said inner flangesto' carry one toward and the other from the outerflange of its pulley whereby to vary the effective diameters of saidintermediate pulleys, belts connecting the intermediate pulleys with thedriving and driven pulleys, respectively, said arms free at their outerends and supported from their mid portions whereby belts may be slippedover said frame including said rms and onto the respective sets ofpulleys, and said means for rotating said gear comprising a reversibleelectric motor selectively operable in either direction to move theinner flanges of said change speed pulleys toward and from theircompanion flanges.

3. In a variable speed pulley drive, in com-- bination, a frameincluding three substantially aligned arms, a drive shaft supported fromone end portion of the intermediate of said arms, a driven shaftsupported in alignment withsaid drive shaft and by and between said endportion of the intermediate arm and an end portion of an outer arm, acountershaft passing through the other end portion of said intermediatearm and having bearing in the aligned end portions of said outer arms, adriving pulley on said drive shaft, adriven pulley on said driven shaft,expansible' pulleys on said countershaft at the respective sides of saidend portion of said intermediate arm, each of said expansible pulleyscomprising anouter fixed flange and an inner movable flange, meanscoupling said movableflanges together. through said end portions ofsaid.inter-= mediate arm, said means including-a coupling, a

rack fixed to said coupling and extending'parallel with saidcountershaft, a gear meshing with said'rack, means for turning said gearin the selected direction to move said inner flanges to carry one towardand the other from the outer flange of its pulley whereby to vary-theeifective.

diameters of said intermediate'pulleys,belts'connecting the intermediatepulleys. with the driv ing and driven pulleys respectively, said armsfree at their outerends and supported from their mid portionswhereby-belts may he slipped over said: frame including said arms andonto the respec tive sets of pulleys,- and said driving and drivenpulleys each including a fixed flange and a spring loaded flangemovabletoward and from its fixed flange for automatic adjustment of suchdriving and driven pulleys in accordance with adjustment of said change-speed'pulleys and to automatically compensate for changes in thelengths of the belt paths resulting from changes in the effectivediameters of the change speed pulleys.

4. In a variable speed pulley drive, in combina-- drive shaft and by andbetween said end portion of the intermediate arm and an end portion ofan outer arm, a countershaft passing through the other end portion ofsaid interme-- diate arm and having bearing in the aligned end portionsof said outer arms, a driving pulley on said drive shaft, a drivenpulley on said driven shaft, expansible pulleys on said countershaft atthe respective sides of said end portion of said intermediate arm, eachof said expansible pulleys comprising an outer fixed flange and an innermovable flange, means coupling said movable flanges together throughsaid end portion of said intermediate arm, a rack fixed to said couplingmeans and extending parallel with said countershaft, a gear meshing withsaid rack, means for turning said gear in the selected direction to movesaid inner flanges to carry one toward and the other from the outerflange of its pulley whereby to vary the effective diameters of saidintermediate pulleys, belts connecting the intermediate pulleys. withthe driving and driven pulleys respectively, said arms free at theirouter ends and supported from their mid portions whereby belts may heslipped over said frame including said arms and onto the respective setsof pulleys, said means for rotating said gear comprising a reversibleelectric motor selectively operable in either direction to move theselected inner flange'of said change speed pulleys toward.

its companion flange, and said driving and driven pulleys each includinga fixed flange and a spring loaded flange movable toward and from itsfixedv flange for automatic adjustment of such driving and drivenpulleys inaccordance with adjustment of said change speed pulleys and toautomatically compensate for changes in the lengths of the belt pathsresulting from changes in the effective diameters of the change speedpulleys.

5. In a variable speed pulley drive, in combi-- nation, a frameincluding three substantially aligned arms, a drive shaft supported fromone end portion of the intermediateof said arms, a driven shaftsupported in alignment with said drive shaft and by and between said endportion of the intermediatearm and an end portionof an outer arm, acountershaft passing through the other end portion of said intermediatearm and having bearing in the aligned end portions of said outer arms, adriving pulley on said drive shaft, a driven pulley on said drivenshaft, expansible pulleys on said countershaft at the respective sidesof said end portion of said intermediate arm, each of said expansiblepulleys comprising an outer fixed flange and an inner movable flange,means coupling said movable flanges together through said end portion ofsaid intermediate arm, a rack fixed to said coupling means and extendingparallel with said countershaft, a gear meshing with said rack, meansfor turning said gear in the selected direction to move said innerflanges to carry one toward and the other from the outer fiange of itspulley whereby to vary the effective diameters of said intermediatepulleys, belts connecting the intermediate pulleys with the driving anddriven pulleys respectively, said arms free at their outer ends andsupported from their mid portions whereby belts may he slipped. oversaid frame including said arms and onto the respective sets of pulleys,said driving and driven pulleys each including a fixed flange and aspring loaded flange movable toward and from its fixed flange forautomatic adjustment of such driving and driven pulleys in accordancewith adjustment of said change speed pulleys and to automaticallycompensate for changes in the lengths of the belt paths resulting fromchanges in the effective diameters of the change speed pulleys, and apower take-01f pulley rigid with the fixed flange of said driven pulley.

6. In a variable speed pulley drive, in combination, a frame includingthree substantially aligned arms, a drive shaft supported from one endportion of the intermediate of said arms, a driven shaft supported inalignment with said drive shaft and by and between said end portion ofthe intermediate arm and an end portion of an outer arm, a countershaftpassing through the other end portion of said intermediate arm andhaving bearing in the aligned end portions of said outer arms, a drivingpulley on said drive shaft, a driven pulley on said driven shaft,expansible pulleys on said countershaft at the respective sides of saidend portion of said intermediate arm, each of said expansible pulleyscomprising an outer fixed flange and an inner movable flange, meanscoupling said movable flanges together through said end portion of saidinter- -mediate arm, said means including a tubular coupling, a rackfixed to said coupling and extending parallel with said countershaft, agear meshing with said rack, means for turning said gear in the selecteddirection to move said inner flanges to carry one toward and the otherfrom the outer flange of its pulley whereby to vary the effectivediameters of said intermediate pulleys, belts connecting theintermediate pulleys with the driving and driven pulleys, respectively,said arms free at their outer ends and supported from their mid portionswhereby belts may be slipped over said frame including said arms andonto the respective sets of pulleys, and a take-off pulley rigid withthe fixed flange of said driven pulley.

'7. In a variable speed pulley drive, in combination, a frame includingthree substantially aligned arms, a drive shaft supported from one endportion of the intermediate of said arms, a

driven shaft supported in alignment with said drive shaft and by andbetween said end portion of the intermediate arm and an end portion ofan outer arm, a countershaft passing through the other end portion ofsaid intermediate arm and having bearing in the aligned end portions ofsaid outer arms, a driving pulley on said drive shaft, a driven pulleyon said driven shaft, expansible pulleys on said countershaft at therespective sides of said end portion of said intermediate arm, each ofsaid expansible pulleys comprising an outer fixed flange and an innermovable flange, means coupling said movable flanges together throughsaid end portion of said intermediate arm, said means including acoupling, a rack fixed to said coupling and extending parallel with saidcountershaft, a gear meshing with said rack, means for turning said gearin the selected direction to move said inner flanges to carry one towardand the other from the outer flange of its pulley whereby to vary theeffective diameters of said intermediate pulleys, belts connecting theintermediate pulleys with the driving and driven pulleys respectively,said arms free at their outer ends and supported from their mid portionswhereby belts may he slipped over said frame including said arms andonto the respective sets of pulleys, said means for rotating said gearcomprising a reversible electric motor selectively operable in eitherdirection to move the inner flanges of said change speed pulleys towardand from their companion flanges, a limit switch controlling said motor,and means movable with said coupling and located to operate said switchat the limit of predetermined movement of said coupling and thus of saidinner pulley flanges in either direction.

8. In a variable speed pulley drive, a rigid frame, aligned driving anddriven shafts supported in said frame for rotation relative thereto,cxpansible driving and driven pulleys on the respective shafts, acountershaft mounted for rotation in said frame in parallel spacedrelation to said driving and driven shafts, intermediate expansihledriving and driven pulleys on said countershaft and substantiallyaligned with the first mentioned driving and driven pulleys, beltsconnecting the first mentioned driving and driven pulleys with thesecond mentioned driving and driven pulleys respectively, means couplingtogether the adjacent flanges of said intermediate pulleys, a rack fixedto said coupling, a gear meshing with said rack, a reversible electricmotor, means mounting said motor on said frame 7 counter shaft, a geardrive between said motor and the outer end of said adjusting shaft, ashaft connected to the first mentioned gear and mounted in said frameand located substantially parallel with the shaft of said motor, asecond gear drive between said adjusting shaft and the last mentionedshaft whereby said motor may drive said rack for shifting said coupling,and thus said adjacent flanges of said intermediate pulleys relative tothe other flanges thereof to vary the rate of drive from the firstmentioned driving pulley to the first mentioned driven pulley throughsaid intermediate pulleys, and said first mentioned driving and drivenpulleys each including a spring loaded flange movable relative to itsother flange against the opposition of its spring and under theinfluence of its spring depending on the direction of adjustment of theadjacent flanges of the intermediate pulleys whereby said firstmentioned driving and driven pulleys are automatically adjusted inaccordance .with adjustments of the intermediate pulleys and ,furtherautomatically compensate for change in expansible driving and drivenpulleys on said countershaft and substantially aligned with the firstmentioned driving and driven pulleys, belts connecting the firstmentioned driving and drivenpulleys with the second mentioned drivingand driven pulleys respectively, means coupling together the adjacent.flanges of said intermediate pulleys, a rack fixed to said coupling, agear meshing with said rack, a reversible electric ,.mC-tor, meansmounting said motor on said frame with the shaft of said motor normal tosaid shafts, an adjusting shaft mounted in said frameand locatedintermediate and substantially parallelwith said driving and drivenshafts and said counter shaft, a gear drive between said .motor and theouter end of said adjusting shaft, ashaft connected to the firstmentioned gear and mounted in said frame and located substantiallyparallellwith the shaft of said motor, a second gear drive between saidadjusting shaft and the last mentioned shaft whereby said motor maydrive said rack for shifting said coupling and thus said adjacentflanges of said intermediate pulleys relative tothe other flangesthereof to ,vary the rate of. drive from the first mentioned drivingpulley to. the first mentioned driven pulley through said intermediate.pulleys.

10.111 a variable speed pulley drive, in combination a frame includingthree substantially ,aligned arms,- a drive shaft supported from one endportion. of the, intermediate of said arms, a

driven shaft supported in alignment with said drive shaft and by.andbetween said end portion of the intermediate arm and an end portionof r an outer arm a countershaft having bearing in the aligned other endportions of said outer arms, a drivingpulley on .said drive shaft, adriven ,pulley on said driven shaft, expansible pulleys on saidcountershaft, each of said expa-nsible pulleys comprising an outer fixedflange and an inner movable flange, means coupling said mov able flangestogether, said means including a ltubular coupling, a rack fixed to saidcoupling and extending parallel with said countershait a gear. meshingwith said rack, means for turn- .ing said gear in the-selected directionto move said inner. flanges to carry one toward and the other from theouter flange of its pulley whereby to vary the efiective diameters ofsaid intermediate pulleys, beltsconnecting theintermbdiate. pulleys withthe driving and driven. pulleys, respectively, and said arms freev attheirouter ends and supported from theirmid portions whereby belts maybe slipped over said frame including said arms and onto the respective.sets of pulleys.

11. In a variable speed pulley drive, in combination, a frame includingthree substantially aligned arms, a drive shaft supported from one endportion of the intermediate of said arms, a driven shaft supported inalignment with said drive shaft and by and between said end portion ofthe intermediate arm and an end portion of an outer arm, a countershafthaving bearing in the aligned other end portions of said outer arms, adriving pulley on said drive shaft, a driven pulley on said drivenshaft, expansible pulleys on said countershaft, each of said expansiblepulleys comprising an outer fixed flange and an inner movable flange,means coupling said movable flanges together, said means including acoupling.

a rack fixed to said coupling and extending paralled with saidcountershaft, a gear meshing with said rack, means for turning said gearin-the selected direction to move said inner flanges to carry one towardand the other from the outer flange of its pulley whereby to vary theefiective diameters of said intermediate pulleys, belts connecting theintermediate pulleys with the drivingand driven pulleys respectively,said arms free at their outer ends and supported from their mid portionswhereby belts may be slipped over said frame including said arms andonto the respective sets of pulleys, and said driving, and drivenpulleys each including a fixed flange and aspringloaded flange movabletoward andfrom its fixed flange for automatic adjustment of such drivingand driven pulleys in accordance with adjustment of ,said change speedpulleys and to automatically compensate 'for changes -in the lengths ofthe belt paths resulting from changes in the effective diameters of thechange speed pulleys.

FREDERICK C. VICTORY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in-the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,179,053 Reeves Nov. 7,19392,212,194 Lewellen Aug. 20, 1940 2,251,488 Hucke 'Aug. 5, 1941 2,326,508Whitcomb -Aug.; 10, 1943 2,348,940 Voegeli -May 16, 1944 2,464,841Alexander -Mar.-22, 1949 2,522,353 Eserkaln 'Sept. l2, 1950 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 464,331 Great Britain Apr. 12, 1937 372,509Italy June 30, 1939

